so, i’ve decided to become an aspiring runner. maybe it’s because of all the runningslash healthblogs i read. maybe it’s because it’s pretty in my new kicks. maybe it’s because it allows me to pound out some anxiety, sadness and frustration in a productive way. maybe it’s because i enjoy eating 3.5 pounds of peanut butter m&m’s in four days and i want a way to expend some of those calories. (yeah. that happened. it was disgustingly delicious. please don’t try it at home.)

whatever the reason, i’ve somehow signed on for four races in the next year. i also ran an 8K in may. i don’t even know myself anymore.

next weekend’s is another 8K and there’s a beer garden at the finish line. i also get to dress up like a pirate.

the next one is a few months out, and teams of 4 compete in a 5K obstacle course. there’s also beer at the finish line.

the next one, however, is the seattle half marathon, thanksgiving weekend, and i’m pretty sure there’s no free beer. what the hell am i thinking? have you BEEN to the seattle area in november? it’s awful. god awful. it’s flooded and cold and just awful. i’m thrilled.

the next one — another half — isn’t until may 2011, so there’s plenty of time to back out.

i’m not dead, folks. i’ve just been living in limbo at my parents’ house, waiting for some down time to find an apartment and move myself into the big emerald city that i said i was moving to three months ago.

well, i’m halfway there. come july 4, i’ll be living it up in seattle. feel free to send me housewarming presents. or just really good tips on how to decorate on a budget. i’m becoming increasing obsessed with design blogs like design*sponge and young house love (seriously, read their wedding post. they’re amazing. and they live in richmond, va!). i want my personal space to be super pretty and super awesome, but i tend to get overwhelmed when i have to make too many decisions on my own. also, i suck at using craigslist. WHO are these people who can find amazing deals on craigslist and WHY am i not one of them?

i will probably just learn to survive without furniture. thank god for the papason chair i bought in college. nothing says super pretty and super awesome like a dingy and weathered wicker chair.

well, we’ll miss you. aren’t you going to miss ____________?
don’t be stupid. i’ve lived here for three years — of course i’m going to miss everyone and everything here! i’m really excited to get back to the northwest though.

what will you do for work? is your company moving you back or are you just going to wing it?
actually, neither. i’ve found an awesome new opportunity through some college friends, and i can’t wait to start on a new adventure.

oh, ok. so where will you be living?
ummmmmmmmm, with my parents for a few weeks/months. should be… fun?

and are you bringing your cat?
is this a real question? of course i’m bringing my cat! we’re shipping my car and household goods, then bizzi and i are flying across the country together.

wait, you’re taking your cat on the plane? will she even FIT on the plane?as always, the fat jokes are unnecessary. yes, she’ll fit on the plane — she’ll even fit in my carry-on bag, underneath the seat in front of me.

you’d better drug her. that’s a long flight.
thank you for your concern. i’m well aware of the flight times between seattle and d.c.

so, wow. seattle. doesn’t it rain a lot there?
it has its moments, which i’m dreading, but i’m just stoked to be near my family and other loved ones again.

no, but seriously. don’t you get super depressed when it’s grey and wet and rainy?
*nods sheepishly*

that’s gonna suck.
yup. but at least i’m moving in the spring, which generally leads to a beautiful, less rainy summer.

so, are you gonna miss __________________?
don’t be stupid. i’ve lived here for three years — of course i’m going to miss everyone and everything here! i’m really excited to get back to the northwest though.

i moved to the d.c. area on a whim three years ago. ok, that’s a lie. i moved here for my job, but that sounds a lot more boring.

while i loved the change in pace, the rush of adventure i got from moving 3,000 miles from everything i knew and loved, it took me a solid year to get my feet on the ground and build a foundation here. if you read through some of my first posts, you’ll see that i was on a never-ending roller coaster. so much has changed since then. i’ve met so many wonderful, fantastic, amazingly awesome people who mean the world to me. but i was never meant to permanently live here.

so i’m doing something about it, and as the cherry blossoms bloom this april, i’ll be flying across the country on a one-way ticket home.